There are some marvelous red wines out there that won’t cost you an arm and a leg to purchase. So why not drink a wine that pleases your taste buds and your wallet?

Here are some of Marvelous Girl’s favorite red wines under $12:

Bogle merlot ($8.99) – Bright summer cherries greet the nose and palate, while touches of tea and rich red fruit are mouth-filling and lingering. The finish, reinforced by smooth, assertive tannins, hints of toasty oak and spice. This wine is available at most conventional grocery stores.

Menage a Trois red ($9.79) – This wine brings together three strange bedfellows: Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Zinfandel, a saucy tease that brings blackberry and raspberry jam to the relationship. Merlot, with its generous mouth feel and red fruits, fits perfectly in the middle. The rich flavors and firm tannins of Cabernet Sauvignon make it the ideal candidate for the bottom layer of the trio. This wine is available at most conventional grocery stores.

Purple Moon Shiraz ($3.99) – Solid, flavorful and surprisingly complex for such an inexpensive bottle of wine. It has big berry flavors and some chocolate at the end. This wine is available at Trader Joe’s.

Ruberneck cabernet sauvignon ($12) – Dark cherry and raspberry fruit aromas leap from the glass, accented with hints of milk chocolate and a touch of smoky oak. This wine is available at select grocery stores like Bristol Farms.

Wine That Loves ($9.99) – These wines are designed to pair with the foods Americans enjoy most often and to reflect American tastes. They are tailored to food lovers, but their world-class quality, distinctive character and winning style also will delight wine aficionados. With names like “Wine That Loves Roasted Chicken” and “Wine That Loves Past With Tomato Sauce”, there’s simply no way to mess up your wine pairing. This wine is available at Cost Plus World Market, but may not be there much longer because it has been flying off the shelves!

2.Place spaghetti squash cut sides down on the prepared baking sheet, and bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a sharp knife can be inserted with only a little resistance. Remove squash from oven, and set aside to cool enough to be easily handled.

3.Meanwhile, heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute onion in oil until tender. Add garlic, and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, and cook only until tomatoes are warm.

4.Use a large spoon to scoop the stringy pulp from the squash, and place in a medium bowl. Toss with the sauteed vegetables, feta cheese, olives, and basil. Serve warm.

I used to be a big fan of Bare Escentuals mineral powder because of its easy application and great coverage. But, then I began to experience dryness (even though I have oily skin) and more lines around the eye area. After speaking with beauty specialists I learned that the product was known to exacerbated the look of pores and wrinkles! — terrible for the middle-aged women the company was targeting.

So what now? I loved the coverage of a mineral powder but didn’t want the chalky look of Bare Escentuals. I wasn’t ready to completely give up, so I decided to try Sheer Cover – which you may have seen on infomercials. To my surprise the product was great. It eliminated shine and had great coverage, but didn’t dehydrate the skin. In fact, the intro kit even included an SPF-15, anti-aging moisturizer to be worn underneath the power.

Your special little someone is about to arrive and baby is going to need an equally special birth announcement – after all, this is his/her debut and first impressions are everything. It may seem like an easy task, but once couples get started they may find it more challenging than they initially thought.

Here are five tips for creating the perfect birth announcement for your little bundle of joy:

1. Select a card that shows your family’s style—unique and individual to represent you and your new baby.

2. Selecting a photo—choose one with sentimental value that evokes a special memory.

3. Keep it simple—a simple introduction followed by the birth details such as name, weight and birth date is ideal.

4. Save time and money by using an Internet photo card company, like www.photoaffections.com. Easily select a template and then insert the photo and text. Once complete, the birth announcements are delivered directly to your home.

5. Research photo card company websites prior to the birth. Then, insert the photo and information to complete the project when baby arrives. Traditional etiquette suggests birth announcements be sent within 6 months of the birth.

Las Vegas is an adult playground, the perfect place for bachelorette’s to let loose with their girlfriends and enjoy the last days of single-dom. Whether it’s a wild pool party followed by an even wilder night on the town or a relaxing day at the spa and dinner at a swanky restaurant, Sin City has something to satisfy every Bachelorette.

With so many different hotel options both on and off the strip, Oyster Hotel Reviews sent its reporters undercover to determine which hotels struck the perfect balance of relaxation and debauchery for brides-to-be.

“Men and women have differing tastes when it comes to partying in Vegas. Women may be inclined to choose a hotel with relaxing day spa to spend time with her girl friends over choosing a hotel with access to great golf courses, for example,” says Will Begeny, Senior Editor for Oyster Hotel Reviews. “Palazzo, Bellagio and the Wynn topped our list for best bachelorette parties for their spa services, hot nightlife and softer styled décor.”

Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino – Average Price: $299/night
Styled a little softer and more feminine than the bachelor-swank of rival Wynn, the enormous rooms at the Palazzo could host a small party. But it’s what’s outside the rooms that makes this our top pick: The Tao and Lavo nightclubs are among the hippest party scenes on the Strip). The hotel’s world-famous Canyon Ranch Spa is arguably the best spa in town. The hotel houses some of the Strip’s best restaurants, including the Japanese-Peruvian-Brazilian cuisine of SushiSamba. And the shops at the Palazzo include top names like Tory Burch and Diane von Furstenberg, plus an 85,000-square-foot Barney’s New York.

Bellagio – Average Price: $239/night
Designed to look like an enormous Italian villa, Bellagio offers serenity (it even has its own botanical gardens) as well as a prime central location for hitting parties on or off the Strip (virtually all the notable clubs are just a short cab ride away). Pamper the whole party at the spa’s whirlpools, eucalyptus steam room, and sauna. The group can also enjoy spa manicures and pedicures together while sipping champagne in a private room. Pick from one of the hotel’s 20-plus restaurants for dinner. Later, burn off the booze and food with a Pilates, cardio, or body-sculpting class at the excellent fitness center.

Wynn Las Vegas – Average Price: $289/night
Luxury pick Wynn is home to Tryst, one of Vegas’ swankiest nightclubs. Getting beyond the bouncer can be tough, but a group of women should fare well (short skirts might help). The hotel’s more intimate nightclub, Blush, has outdoor seating. Beyond the clubs, the gorgeous spa, and the classy “European pool” (where you can sunbathe topless), the biggest perk at the Wynn is its enormous rooms – perfect for having your whole group over for cocktails before heading out on the town.

Caesars Palace Hotel & Casino – Average Price: $218/night
Balancing low-key partying with ample pampering, Caesars Palace is a great choice for bachelorettes. (Don’t let that bachelor party gone awry in The Hangover dissuade you.) Qua Baths & Spa, one of the best spas in Vegas, offers, among other delights, its own Roman baths, Laconium steam baths, and Vichy showers; a day pass costs $45. The two-story Pure nightclub has four distinct spaces, each with its own DJ, so you can scope out the right crowd for your mood. And the adults-only Venus Pool is a bit more laid-back than some of the other, more notorious pool parties in Vegas.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Average Price: $216/night
Hard Rock is for ladies who are, well, ready to rock. By day, the Beach Club Pool is about the craziest scene on the Strip — especially on Sunday, when it hosts the Rehab pool party. At night, the clubs Body English and Wasted Space — both known to attract celebrities such as Paris Hilton and Kevin Federline — are Vegas favorites. After-hours, you can scarf down some American fare at the 24-hour restaurant.

For girls on a budget, this place sound great too:

The Palms Casino Resort – Average Price: $82/night
If what the bride-to-be needs is to feel sexy, head to the Palms’ coed hammam (Turkish bath) at the chic Drift Spa. When night falls, hit the hotel’s popular Rain nightclub or Moon, another club with live DJs, multiple bars, and a retractable roof. For an especially girly getaway, consider the 2,350-square-foot Barbie Suite, decorated with framed Barbie prints, a fireplace, super-pink Barbie patterns on the pillows and walls, and 65 Barbie dolls mounted on a mirror.

Finding the perfect baby shower gift can be a challenge. You want to give the new mommy something practical, cute and unique – because you don’t want her to have to return duplicates. Here are several great gift ideas that any new mommy would love and that will leave the all the shower guests cooing:

1) FuzziBunz ($19 each) – stylish diapers that are reusable, chemical-free and made of microfleece, which pulls moisture away from the skin to keep baby dry. To find a retailers in your area visit FuzziBunz.com.

2) Poo-Pourri Jr.($12.95/4oz. or $19.95/8oz.) – a diaper spray made of all-natural anti-bacterial essential oils such as bergamot, lemongrass and grapefruit. It eliminates the source of odor causing bacteria and uses a secret formula that safely and effectively traps and diffuses odors in cloth and plastic diapers, leaving your home fresh and clean. Available at Poopurri.com.

3) Bling-Baby Onesie($19) – Onesies are a traditional shower gift, but Bling-Baby makes onesies with attitude! These adorable garments have sayings like, “I’ve arrived” and “Rock Star.” They’re so cute they’ve been featured in the likes of Life & Style and OK magazine. Available at www.bling-baby.com.

4) MoBoleez($35) – Not every mom likes to breastfeed behind a blanket. So the solution to this is a hat designed specifically for the breastfeeding baby. The hat has a tiny little head and great big brim that gives mom a little privacy and shields baby from distracting lights or noise. MoBoleez come in several different colors and patterns, to match the new mommy’s style and personality. Available at www.MoBoleez.com.

5) Milkscreen ($5.99) – When breastfeeding, moms are often hesitant to have a glass of wine or a cocktail. So instead of the precautionary pumping and dumping, moms can take a two minute test to detect for alcohol in breast milk. And after nine months of pregnancy, she’ll surely be ready for a cocktail with her girlfriends! Available at www.milkscreen.com.